visions of the sandy hook elementary school were in her head. >> i couldn't take the shopping and seeing all the little kids 5-year-olds, 6-year-olds, particularly saddens me. >> reporter: she bought gift cards instead and none of the streaks stuff she might have found being in -- none of the extra stuff she might have been found being in stores. december retail is a bummer in the news and stores. >> this is not at all a good holiday season for the retailer. >> reporter: it could have been for the customer. >> 495. our price is 179 and an additional 10% now. >> reporter: and no one is buying it? >> not yet. >> reporter: this shop slashed prices as retailers did all over the country. still, it was not a good christmas for her nor most others. >> it started out already. and it just dropped off about a week ago. >> reporter: that's when it should have been booming. as it turned out this was the worst season since the country was mired in recession 2008. sales were up fractionally. expectations were up 3 to 4%. >> the controversy around this "fiscal cliff" kicked in and people started feelin